My Son Sanctuary relic site (in Duy Phu commune, Duy Xuyen district, Quang Nam province), is the most famous architectural complex of the Cham people in Vietnam. My Son relic site was built from the late 4th century to the 13th century.
Overview of My Son Sanctuary
Table of Contents
Address
Duy Phu commune, Duy Xuyen district, Quang Nam province, located 69km from Da Nang city and 45km from Hoi An ancient town.
The Formation History of My Son Sanctuary
On April 29, 1979, the Ministry of Culture and Information issued Decision No. 54VH/QD recognizing My Son as an architectural and artistic relic. In 1898, a Frenchman named M.C Paris discovered the My Son temple complex located discreetly in a narrow valley, among dense forests. Not long after that, scientists from the French Institute of the Far East came to study the inscriptions and architectural and sculptural works at My Son. It was they who lifted the veil of mystery about My Son and showed that this is the most magnificent and typical religious relic site of the Champa people, built continuously for more than 1,000 years.
The construction process of My Son’s holy land
Construction began in the 4th century by King Bhadravarman (reigned from 349 to 361) and ended in the late 13th and early 14th centuries under the reign of King Jaya Simhavarman III (Che Man), My Son is a The complex has more than 70 temples and towers with many architectural and sculptural styles representing each historical period of the Champa kingdom.
Most of the architectural works and sculptures at My Son are influenced by Hinduism. The temples and towers mostly face the rising sun, the abode of the gods. Except for a few towers facing west or both east and west, expressing the thoughts of the afterlife of deified kings after death and to show nostalgia for their ancestors.
Devastated by war, by 1975, My Son had only 32 works left, of which about 20 still retain their original appearance. Unfortunately, the largest building is the 24m high A1 tower, with 6 surrounding sub-towers. This tower is considered a masterpiece of Champa architecture and was destroyed by American bombs at the end of 1969.
The main temples in My Son worship a set of Linga or image of Shiva – the protector of the Champa kings. The god worshiped in My Son is Bhadravarman, the king who founded the first king line of the Amaravati region in the 4th century combined with the name Siva, becoming the main religion worshiping the god-king and royal ancestors.
After many years of ups and downs and changes in history, today My Son Sanctuary is still a relic with unique cultural, artistic and architectural values of humanity. It is the crystallization of wisdom and talent of many generations.
My Son relic site was officially recognized as a World Cultural Heritage by the UNESCO World Heritage Committee on December 1, 1999. 
Architecture of My Son Sanctuary
The entire My Son relic is divided into 4 areas: A, B, C. Don’t worry because visitors will be guided to visit each area. The noticeable highlight here is that the ancient Champa architecture seems to still be intact. Such as the statue of Siva, stone steles, mascots and the ancient temple system.
Area A: This is the first destination you will arrive at. From here visitors can observe and cover all areas B, C,. The main relics here are temples and towers that are in the process of being restored, which are worth learning about.
Area B: Here will be the western hill, where there is 1 main tower and 3 auxiliary towers.
Area C: Here will be the southern hill, the most prominent area in My Son holy land with many extremely diverse and rich inscriptions, temples, reliefs and sculptures.
The graceful Siva dance at My Son Holy Land
After visiting all the sightseeing areas here as well as being introduced to My Son Sanctuary. Visitors will experience the culture of the ancient Champa people through art performances. Such as trumpet playing, dance. Siva’s graceful and attractive dances will leave unforgettable impressions.
Things to note when coming to My Son Sanctuary
It is known that, although it is a famous ancient temple area, My Son Sanctuary does not support activities . Such as worshiping and burning incense everywhere here. Although it is a famous tourist destination, My Son Temple is located right in the middle of a valley. It is inside a deep forest, seemingly separate from the outside. Therefore, you will not be able to eat or buy souvenirs here. Instead, people should be considerate and bring some snacks. In My Son, there is only one unit allowed to do business inside. If you need it, you can stop by and buy it here.
The following is the information about My Son Sanctuary that Compass Tourist would like to provide you about My Son Sanctuary. Wishing you a happy trip to My Son! If you want to visit My Son Sanctuary as a package, do not hesitate to contact us.